System for monitoring caregivers and equipment at a patient location

ABSTRACT

A hospital monitoring system for monitoring hospital personnel, a plurality of patient locations for patients, and associated devices is configured to control the associated devices based on the presence of hospital personnel or alarms.

REFERENCE TO PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No.12/258,058, filed Oct. 24, 2008, projected U.S. Pat. No. 8,026,821,which is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 11/075,979, filedMar. 9, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,443,302, which is a continuation ofprior application Ser. No. 09/849,688, filed May 4, 2001, now U.S. Pat.No. 6,876,303, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional ApplicationSer. No. 60/202,283, entitled “Patient Point of Care Computer System,”filed May 5, 2000; U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/202,284, entitled“Remote Control for a Hospital Bed,” filed May 5, 2000; and U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/229,136, entitled “Patient Point of CareComputer System,” filed Aug. 30, 2000, all of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference.

CROSS REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS

The disclosures of co-pending U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No.09/849,580, entitled “Patient Point of Care Computer System”, filed May4, 2001, and U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 09/848,941,entitled “Remote Control for a Hospital Bed” filed May 4, 2001 areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hospital monitoring system, and moreparticularly, to hospital monitoring system for monitoring hospitalpersonnel, a plurality of patient locations for patients, and associateddevices.

Hospital staff, including doctors, nurses, physician assistants,orderlies, etc., provide patient care while the patient is undergoingtreatment and/or therapy during a hospital visit. A number of systemshave been developed to facilitate providing patient care, such aspersonnel locating systems, nurse call systems, bed status informationsystems, and patient monitoring devices. Details of such systems aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,067,019 (Bed Exit Detection Apparatus);5,838,223 (Patient/Nurse Call System); 5,808,552 (Patient DetectionSystem for a Patient-Support Device); 5,699,038 (Bed Status InformationSystem for Hospital Beds); 5,561,412 (Patient/Nurse Call System); and5,537,095 (Incontinence Detection Device), the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference. Additionally, co-pending U.S.Nonprovisional application Ser. Nos. 09/849,580, filed May 4, 2001,entitled “Patient Point of Care Computer System”, and 09/848,941, filedMay 4, 2001, entitled “Remote Control For a Hospital Bed”, thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, also disclosesystems that have been developed to facilitate providing patient care.

The systems disclosed above facilitate various patient alarms, such as apatient exiting a bed, an incontinence event, or an emergency call for acaregiver. Typically, a caregiver will enter the patient's room whenresponding to an alarm. However, the caregiver often must manuallysilence the alarm, adjust the room lighting, or shut off a television orradio prior to attending to the patient. This manual preparation of theworking environment may distract the caregiver and further increasesresponse time to critical alarms. The disclosure is directed toward theautomatic silencing of such alarms and/or preparing the workingenvironment when a responsive caregiver enters the patient's room.Further, the disclosure is directed toward preparing the workingenvironment when an alarm is received. Further still, the disclosure isdirected toward preparing the working environment when an alarm isreceived, subject to environmental and patient control overridesdepending on the nature of the alarm and time of the alarm.

The system disclosed also provides for automatic lockouts of patient andenvironmental controls when the caregiver enters the room, regardless ofthe presence of an alarm. As a caregiver makes his or her rounds, thecaregiver may need to tend to the patient's needs. Often a caregivermust ensure that patient activated controls are locked out during thistime, as the patient may inadvertently activate a control and interferewith the caregiver's duties. Also disclosed is a system that providesfor the automatic enablement of patient controls, bed controls, and/orenvironmental controls when a caregiver is in the room.

One illustrative embodiment prevents the status of bed lockouts frombeing changed without an authorized caregiver within the room. When thecaregiver enters the room, the system receives a caregiveridentification signal from a caregiver badge. After the systemauthenticates the identification signal, the system then permits the bedlockout status to be changed. The bed lockout controls prevent thepatient on bed from actuating certain controls. These lockouts aretypically actuated by pressing a button or a combination of two or morebuttons on the bed to lock out various bed controls, environmentalcontrols, or other functions.

Another embodiment is designed for use with beds which are movable froma generally flat bed position to a chair position. In this embodiment ofthe present invention, the bed is unable to move to a chair positionunless an authorized caregiver is located within the room. Again, thesystem must receive and authenticate the identification signal fromcaregiver badge before the bed is permitted to move to the chairposition.

In yet another embodiment, the status of patient environmental controlsadjacent a bed is automatically altered when the caregiver enters theroom. For example, in one embodiment the sound on a TV/radio device ismuted and specific light sources are activated when the caregiver entersthe room. A system receives the caregiver identification signal. Afterthe system authenticates the identification signal, the system instructsthe TV/radio device to mute all sound and the light source to activatespecific lights. In another embodiment, the system locks out one or moreof the environmental controls within the room once the control unitauthenticates the identification signal from the caregiver badge.Therefore, the patient can no longer control the environmental functionssuch as, for example, the radio, television or lighting when anauthorized caregiver is in the room.

According to the invention, a hospital monitoring system for monitoringhospital personnel, a plurality of patient locations for patients, andassociated devices is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality oftransmitters carried by hospital personnel, each transmitterperiodically transmitting a transmitter signal unique to thattransmitter; a plurality of receivers, each receiver corresponding to apatient location, the receivers receiving the transmitter signals andoutputting a receiver signal; and a computer coupled to the associateddevices, the computer configured to receive the receiver signals anddetermine the presence of hospital personnel in the patient locations,the computer further configured to alter device states based on thepresence of hospital personnel.

Also according to the invention, a method of controlling devices in apatient location is provided. The method comprises the steps ofassociating the patient location to a patient; associating devices tothe patient location; determining the presence of hospital personnel inthe patient location; and altering the state of the devices based thepresence of hospital personnel.

Also according to the invention, a hospital monitoring system formonitoring hospital personnel, a plurality of patient locations forpatients, and associated devices is provided. The system comprises alocating and tracking system configured to locate and track hospitalpersonnel located in the plurality of patient locations; a computercoupled to the associated devices and the locating and tracking system,the computer configured to determine the presence of hospital personnelin the patient locations from the locating and tracking system, thecomputer further configured to alter device states based on the presenceof hospital personnel. The computer also includes a database, thedatabase comprising a patient database, the patient database associatedeach patient with a patient location; a hospital personnel database, thehospital personnel database associating each hospital personnel with acaregiver or non-caregiver class, the hospital personnel databasefurther associating hospital personnel with a patient; and an alarmdatabase, the alarm database associating a plurality of alarms with thehospital personnel.

Additional features of the invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon consideration of the following detaileddescription of illustrated embodiments exemplifying the best mode ofcarrying out the invention as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figuresin which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the components of the hospitalmonitoring and control system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a hospital room whichillustrates a patient station in a patient room and the physicalarrangement of other components, including an incontinence detectiondevice;

FIG. 3 depicts a database structure used to associate patients withhospital personnel, and associate hospital personnel with alarms;

FIG. 4 depicts the database association for a specific patient record,the patient associated with hospital personnel, and the hospitalpersonnel associated with alarms;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an illustrative embodiment of an automaticalarm silencing process that includes association of patients, hospitalpersonnel and alarms;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of another illustrative embodiment of an automaticalarm silencing process that includes association of patients andhospital personnel;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an illustrative embodiment of an alarmsilencing process in conjunction with a patient control lockout thatincludes a lockout of patient activated controls;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of another illustrative embodiment of an automaticalarm silencing process in conjunction with a patient control lockoutthat includes a lockout of patient activated controls upon theoccurrence of the alarm;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of another illustrative embodiment describing aprocess that locks out patient bed controls and environmental controlsbased on the alarm priority;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of another illustrative embodiment describing aprocess that prepares the patient environment for the caregiver based onthe alarm priority;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of another illustrative embodiment describing aprocess that prepares the patient environment for the caregiver based onthe alarm priority, with each environmental preparation subject to anoverride condition;

FIG. 12 depicts the database association of the alarm database, thedatabase containing Type, Priority, Lockouts and Overrides fields;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating the control circuitry forseveral environmental controls;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating the bed controller andassociated bed controls;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart of another illustrative embodiment describing aprocess which lockouts and/or alters selected patient and environmentalcontrols when a caregiver is present in the room; and

FIG. 16 is a flow chart of another illustrative embodiment describing aprocess which enables selected patient and environmental controls when acaregiver is present the room.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrates a block diagramof the hospital monitoring and control system 10 of the presentinvention, and an illustrative hospital environment in which the systemis utilized.

FIG. 2 illustrates a patient room 130 which includes a patient station22 and the physical arrangement of other components, including anincontinence detection device 65. The patient station 22 isillustratively a component of a nurse call system 40. Caregiver 110wears a badge 24 which clips to the caregiver's 110 clothing. The badge24 transmits a pulse-coded signal, preferably infrared or RF, which isreceived by receiver 25, which is preferably located at the patientstation 22, and/or an overhead receiver 125 so that the location andtracking systems 20 can determine and continuously update locations ofcaregivers 110 on duty. Overhead light 122 provides room illumination,and reading light 123 provides reading illumination for the patient.Overhead light 122 and reading light 123 are controlled by lightcontrols 132 and 133, respectively.

Pillow unit 28 connects via a cable 26 to a receptacle 27 which, inturn, is connected to the nurse call system 40. Pillow unit 28 allowsthe patient 100 to manually place a nurse call or alarm via nurse callsystem 40. Pillow unit also allows patient 100 access to bed 90 controlsand environmental controls 50. Bed 90 controls are also accessible bythe caregiver 110 via control panel 140.

Incontinence detection device 65 is interposed between the bed 90 andpatient 110. Incontinence detection device 65 is connected to thecomputer 12 via bed 90 electronics and cable 91 via receptacle 27.

The system 10 illustratively includes a computer 12 configured tomonitor various system alarms, device status, the hospital personnelinformation, and patient information. Computer 12 is coupled to alocation and tracking system 20. Location and tracking system 20monitors and tracks the location of hospital personnel, patients andequipment within the hospital. Computer 12 is also connected to nursecall system 40. Nurse call system 40 is associated with various alarms42. The alarms 42 illustratively include the following:

ALARM PRIORITY GENERATED BY Code Blue 1 Human/Input Device StaffEmergency 2 Human/Input Device Bathroom 3 Human/Input Device Shower 4Human/Input Device Patient Equipment 5 Automatic/Input Device

Illustratively, the alarms 42 will place a call to a caregiver throughlocation and tracking system 20 and nurse call system 40.

Computer 12 is also connected to hospital bed 90. Hospital bed 90 isassociated with alarms 92. Alarms 92 include bed malfunction alarmsand/or bed exit alarms, and incontinence detection device 65 alarms.Illustratively, alarms 92 will place a call to a caregiver throughlocation and tracking system 20 and nurse call system 40.

Bed 90 includes frame and resting surface devices 190 adjust theposition of bed 90 and the position and shape of the resting surface, asillustrated in FIG. 14. In addition, other devices are included in frameand resting surface devices 190, such as resting surface vibration,temperature and firmness controls. Caregiver 110 accesses and changesthe state of frame and resting surface devices 190 via control panel140, shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 14 shows several frame and resting surfacedevices 190, however FIG. 14 should not be considered an exhaustivelist. Examples of frame and resting surface devices 190 include headposition control 275, back position control 280, seat/thigh positioncontrol 285, heating control 290, firming bladder 295, retractingfootboard control 300, turn assist bladder control 305 and vibrationcontrol 310.

Head position control 275, back position control 280 and seat/thighposition control 285 all alter the shape of the resting surface of bed90. Head position control 275 raises or lowers the head position of theresting surface generally coincident with the head of the patient. Backposition control 280 raises or lowers the middle portion of the restingsurface generally coincident with the back of the patient. Seat/thighposition control 285 raises or lowers the lower portion of the restingsurface generally coincident with the seat and thighs of a patient.

Heating control 290 controls the temperature of the resting surface ofbed 90. Similarly, vibration control 310 controls the vibratory actionof the resting surface of bed 90. Firming bladder control 295 controlsthe firmness of the resting surface of bed 90. Retracting footboardcontrol 300 adjusts the length of the foot portion of the restingsurface of bed 90. This allows bed 90 to accommodate patients of variousheights comfortably. Turn assist bladder control 305 controls rotationof the patient to reduce the likelihood of pulmonary complications. Aninterface pressure sensor and controller for a patient support surfacesuch as an air mattress may also be coupled to the controller 190.

Computer 12 is also connected to coupler 60. The computer 12 may becoupled to monitors 26, treatment devices 72, and therapy devices 82through coupler 60. Illustratively, coupler 60 may be an RS-232compatible cable or other suitable connector, such as a RS-485compatible cable, Ethernet, or other network connection device known tothose of ordinary skill in the art. Computer 12 processes signals fromthe monitors 62, treatment devices 72, and therapy devices 82 on a realtime basis. The monitors 62, treatment devices 72, and therapy devices82 include, but are not limited to, heart rate monitors, temperaturesensors, blood pressure monitors (invasive and noninvasive), EKGmonitors, blood oxygen sensors, capnographs, ventilators, IV pumps,scales, chest drainage monitors, and the like. Monitors 62, treatmentdevices 72 and therapy devices 82 have associated alarms 64, 74 and 84,respectively. Illustratively, alarms 64, 74, and 84 will place a call toa caregiver through location and tracking system 20 and nurse callsystem 40.

Computer 12 is also connected to environmental devices 50. Alarm 52 isassociated with environmental devices 50. Environmental devices 50illustratively include temperature control devices, such as athermostat, and humidity control devices, such as a humidifier.Additionally, environmental devices 50 illustratively includeentertainment devices such as a television/radio 120, and lighting suchas overhead light 122 and reading light 123, all of which do not havealarms associated therewith.

Environmental devices 50 control environmental parameters within thepatient room. FIG. 13 shows several different environmental devices 50;however FIG. 13 should not be considered an exhaustive list. Examples ofenvironmental devices 50 include TV/radio 120 control 345, roomtemperature control 350 and lighting control 355, which control overheadlight 122 and reading light 123.

TV/radio 120 control 345 controls the functions of the TV/radio 120 inthe room. Room temperature control 350 is a thermostat control foraltering the temperature of the patient's room. Lighting control 355controls overhead light 122 and reading light 123, and their brightnesslevel.

In one embodiment, the status of the environmental controls isautomatically altered when caregiver 110 enters the room. For example,the sound on TV/radio 120 is muted and overhead light 122 and/or readinglight 123 controlled by lighting control 355 are activated. Whencaregiver 110 enters the room, receiver 25 receives the caregiveridentification signal broadcast by caregiver badge 24. After thecomputer 12 authenticates the identification signal, the computer 12instructs TV/radio 120 control 345 to mute all sound and lighting device355 to illuminate overhead light 122 and reading light 123.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the computer 12overrides one or more of the environmental controls within the room oncethe computer 12 authenticates the identification signal from the badge24. In other words, the patient can no longer control the environmentalfunctions such as, for example, the radio, television or lighting whenan authorized caregiver 110 is in the room.

Bed 90 includes lockout controls which prevent the patient 100 on bed 90from actuating certain controls. These lockouts are typically actuatedby pressing a button or a combination of two or more buttons on the bedto lock out various bed controls, environmental controls, or otherfunctions. In one embodiment of the present invention, these bedlockouts cannot be changed without an authorized caregiver 110 withinthe room. In other words, when caregiver 110 enters the room, thereceiver 25 receives the caregiver identification signal from the badge24. After the control unit authenticates the identification signal 24,computer 12 then permits the bed lockout status to be changed.

Certain beds such as the TotalCare® bed available from Hill-Rom, Inc.are capable of moving from a generally flat bed position to a chairposition. In one embodiment of the present invention, the bed is unableto move to a chair position unless an authorized caregiver 110 islocated within the room. Again, the computer 12 must receive andauthenticate the identification signal from badge 24 before the bed ispermitted to move to the chair position. Thus, a feature is selectivelylocked out in the absence of a caregiver 110.

FIG. 15 depicts shows a flow chart 1500 of the illustrative embodiments,and describes a process which lockouts and/or alters selected patientand environmental controls when a caregiver 110 is present in the room.In step 1502, the locating and tracking system 20 monitors the room fora caregiver 110. If a caregiver enters the room, step 1504 exits themonitoring loop and enables step 1506, which locks out and/or altersselected patient and environmental controls. In step 1508, the locatingand tracking system 20 monitors the room for the presence of thecaregiver 110 and retains the state of 1506 as long as the caregiver 110is in the room. When the caregiver 110 exits the room, the patientlockouts are removed and the environment is restored, along with thepatient 100 controls to alter the environment.

FIG. 16 depicts shows a flow chart 1600 of another one of theillustrative embodiments, and describes a process which enables and/oralters selected patient and environmental controls when a caregiver 110enters the room. In step 1602, the locating and tracking system 20monitors the room for a caregiver 110. If a caregiver enters the room,step 1604 exits the monitoring loop and enables step 1606, which enablesand/or alters selected patient and environmental controls. In step 1608,the locating and tracking system 20 monitors the room for the presenceof the caregiver 110 and retains the state of 1606 as long as thecaregiver 110 is in the room. When the caregiver 110 exits the room, thepatient and environmental lockouts are restored.

FIG. 3 depicts a database structure used to associate patients withhospital personnel, and associate hospital personnel with alarms.Patient information is stored in patient database 200. As depicted inFIG. 3, there are numerous patients in the database, ranging from recordnumber 1 to k.

Hospital personnel information is stored in hospital personnel database300. There are numerous hospital personnel in the hospital personneldatabase 300, ranging from record number 1 to m. Furthermore, hospitalpersonnel information stored in hospital personnel database 300 iscategorized by personnel position. Illustratively, the hospitalpersonnel database contains a “doctor” class, a “nurse” class, an“orderly” class, and a “non-caregiver” class. Non-caregiver classillustratively includes security staff, administrative staff, orjanitorial staff.

Alarm database 400 stores alarm information for alarm records 1 to n,each record associated with a different alarm. Furthermore, alarminformation stored in alarm database 300 includes alarm type and alarmpriority. Thus, alarm record 1, for example, may be associated with acardiac arrest and allocated priority 1, the highest priority and thusrequiring immediate attention, and alarm record n may be associated withan incontinence event, and be allocated a lower priority.

FIG. 4 depicts the database association for a specific patient record,the patient associated with hospital personnel, and the hospitalpersonnel associated with alarms. Illustratively, patient record 221 isassociated with hospital personnel records 11, 131, and 211. In thepresent example, the patient represented by patient record 221 has beenadmitted for a heart procedure requiring surgery. Hospital personnelrecords 11, 131, and 211 correspond to a surgeon, a cardiologist and anurse, respectively. Alarms records 1-11 in alarm database 400 areassociated with hospital personnel records 11, 131, and 211. In theillustrative example, alarm records 1-3 are associated with hospitalpersonnel record 11, alarm records 3-7 are associated with hospitalpersonnel record 131, and alarm records 8-11 are associated withhospital personnel record 211. Illustratively, alarm record 1corresponds to a cardiac arrest, and has the highest priority, whichrequires the attention of a cardiologist. Alarm record 3 corresponds toa less severe cardiac event, such as an irregular heart rate, and thushas a lesser priority, and requires either the cardiologist or surgeon.

The flow diagram 500 of FIG. 5 depicts one illustrative embodiment ofthe automatic alarm silencing process that includes association ofpatients, hospital personnel and alarms. In step 502, the computer 12receives an alarm from either the location and tracking system 20, thenurse call system 40, a treatment device 72, a therapy device 82,environmental devices 50, or the hospital bed 90. Upon receiving thealarm signal, computer 12 gets the alarm priority from alarm database400, and may also notify the caregiver at their current location. Instep 504, the computer monitors the room 130 from which the alarm wasreceived for a caregiver. In the illustrative embodiment disclosedherein, patient station 22 monitors the room 130 via receiver 25. Uponentering the room 130, a caregiver is identified by badge 24, whichemits an infrared pulse and is detected by receiver 25. Computer 12receives the caregiver identification and thus identifies the associatedhospital personnel record in hospital personnel database 300.

In step 506, computer 12 determines whether the caregiver in room 130 isassociated with the alarm priority stored in alarm database 400. Forexample, if the alarm priority is 3, indicating a cardiac event of lowerpriority than a cardiac arrest, and the person entering the room isidentified as a non-caregiver, e.g., a security officer, the alarm willnot be silenced. Similarly, if the caregiver is identified as a nurse,the alarm will not be silenced. Conversely, if the caregiver isidentified as a cardiologist or surgeon, which in this example isassociated with the alarm of priority 3, then step 508 determines if thedoctor identified is associated with that patient. If the doctor isassociated with the patient, then the alarm is silenced in step 510. Ifthe doctor is not associated with the patient, the alarm is notsilenced.

The flow diagram 600 of FIG. 6 depicts another illustrative embodimentof the automatic alarm silencing process that includes associatingpatients with hospital personnel. In step 602, the computer 12 receivesan alarm from either the location and tracking system 20, the nurse callsystem 40, a treatment device 72, a therapy device 82, environmentaldevices 50, or the hospital bed 90. Upon receiving the alarm signal,computer 12 monitors the room 130 from which the alarm was received fora caregiver, as shown in step 604. In the illustrative embodimentdisclosed herein, patient station 22 monitors the room 130 via receiver25. Upon entering the room 130, a caregiver is identified by badge 24,which emits an infrared and/or RF pulse and is detected by receiver 25.Computer 12 receives the caregiver identification and thus identifiesthe associated hospital personnel record in hospital personnel database300. Step 606 determines if the caregiver is associated with thepatient. If the caregiver is associated with the patient, then the alarmis silenced in step 608. If the caregiver is not associated with thepatient, the alarm is not silenced.

The flow diagram 700 of FIG. 7 depicts another illustrative embodimentof the automatic alarm silencing process that includes a lockout ofpatient activated controls. In step 702, the computer 12 receives analarm from either the location and tracking system 20, the nurse callsystem 40, a treatment device 72, a therapy device 82, environmentaldevices 50, or the hospital bed 90. Upon receiving the alarm signal,computer 12 monitors the room 130 from which the alarm was received fora caregiver, as shown in step 704. In the illustrative embodimentdisclosed herein, patient station 22 monitors the room 130 via receiver25. Upon entering the room 130, a caregiver is identified by badge 24,which emits an infrared pulse and is detected by receiver 25. Once thecaregiver enters the room, step 706 silences the alarm and locks out anypatient activated controls, such as bed 90 controls or television/radio120 controls, thus decreasing the likelihood that the patient 100 mayinadvertently interfere with caregiver 110 while the caregiver 110administers the required therapy in response to the alarm.

The flow diagram 800 of FIG. 8 depicts another illustrative embodimentof the automatic alarm silencing process in conjunction with a patientcontrol lockout that includes a lockout of patient activated controlsimmediately upon the occurrence of an alarm. Locking out patient andenvironmental controls as soon as an alarm is received is desirableshould the patient 100 be suffering from severe condition, such as acardiac arrest or seizure, so as to prevent a patient s involuntarymovement from accidentally activating a bed 90 or environmental devices50.

In step 802, the computer 12 receives an alarm from either the locationand tracking system 20, the nurse call system 40, a treatment device 72,a therapy device 82, environmental devices 50, or the hospital bed 90.Upon receiving the alarm signal, computer 12 immediately locks out allpatient and environmental controls as shown in step 804. Controller 12then monitors the room 130 from which the alarm was received for acaregiver, as shown in step 806. Once the caregiver enters the room,step 808 silences the alarm.

Often an alarm may sound when a caregiver 110 in present in the hospitalroom 130. In such a situation, it is not desirable to automaticallycancel the alarm, as the caregiver 110 may not immediately notice thealarm, or the alarm may be suppressed before it emits an audible signal.Accordingly, alternative embodiments to FIGS. 5-8 include a step thatdetermines whether a caregiver 110 is present in the room 130 when thealarm sounds; if a caregiver 110 is present, the alarm is notautomatically suppressed by the presence of the caregiver 110. Computer12 is configured to allow the alarm to sound for a predetermined amountof time so that the caregiver 110 can assess which alarm is sounding.Alternatively, computer 12 is configured to require the caregiver 110 tomanually shut off the alarm. Conversely, if a caregiver 110 is not inthe room 130, then the processes are the same as depicted in FIGS. 5-8.

Depending on the alarm priority, locking out patient controls may not bedesirable. For example, if patient 100 experiences an incontinenceevent, the patient may desire to exit the bed to personally tend to hishygiene needs. However, locking out the bed controls can impede patient100 from exiting the bed. Conversely, if the patient is experiencing aseizure, locking out the bed 90 controls and environmental devices 50 isdesirable so to prevent a patient's involuntary movement fromaccidentally activating a bed 90 or environmental devices 50.

FIG. 9 shows a flow chart 900 of another illustrative embodimentdescribing a process that locks out patient bed controls andenvironmental controls based on the alarm priority. In step 902,computer 12 receives an alarm. In step 904, the alarm priority isassessed. Step 906 determines whether a patient lock out is required. Ahigher priority alarm, such as a code blue or cardiac arrest alarm, willwarrant locking out most, if not all, controls accessible by patient 90.Conversely, a lower priority alarm, such as an incontinence event, willwarrant few, if any, control lock outs. Thus, step 908 determineswhether a full lockout or a partial lockout is required. If a fulllockout is required, step 910 selects all patient controls for lockout.Conversely, if only a partial lockout is required, step 912 selectswhich patient controls are to be locked out. The lockouts can either bepreset in the system or manually set by hospital personnel. All selectedcontrols are then locked out in step 914.

Similarly, depending on the priority of the alarm, the patient 100environment may be prepared for the arrival of the caregiver 110. Forexample, if patient 100 experiences a cardiac arrest while watchingtelevision/radio 120, television/radio 120 will be immediately shut off.As a cardiac arrest usually warrants a response team, shutting off thetelevision/radio 120 will ensure that this device will not distract anymember of the response team. Conversely, if a patient 100 experiencesonly a slight incontinence event while watching television, which maynot even be noticeable to the patient 100, the better therapy may be tolet the patient 100 rest and tend to the patient 100 at a later time. Assuch, the television/radio 120 will not be shut off automatically. Thus,the environmental devices 50 may not be altered, based on the eventmagnitude of an associated alarm.

FIG. 10 shows a flow chart 1000 of another illustrative embodimentdescribing that process that prepares the patient environment for thecaregiver based on the alarm priority. In step 1002, computer 12receives an alarm. In step 1004, the alarm priority is assessed. Step1006 determines whether environmental preparation is required. A higherpriority alarm, such as a code blue or cardiac arrest alarm, willwarrant environmental preparation. Conversely, a lower priority alarm,such as a slight incontinence event, will not require an environmentalpreparation. If an environmental preparation is required, theenvironment is prepared in step 1008.

FIG. 11 shows a flow chart 1100 of another illustrative embodimentdescribing a process that prepares the patient environment for thecaregiver based on the alarm priority, with each environmentalpreparation subject to an override condition. Illustratively, anenvironmental preparation can be subject to an override conditiondepending on the time of day. For example, if patient 100 experiences acardiac arrest in the evening while sleeping, it is likely that room 130lighting is low or off. Given the seventy of a cardiac arrest, whichwarrants a response team, an environmental preparation includes turningon the room 130 lighting. As such, overhead light 122 will immediatelyilluminate the room, as a response team will most likely arrive soonafter the alarm is generated. Conversely, if a patient 100 experiencesonly a slight incontinence event during the evening while sleeping, thebetter therapy may be to let the patient 100 rest and tend to thepatient 100 in the morning. As such, no environmental preparations isrequired and overhead light 122 remains off.

Once the environmental preparations are determined, step 1102 selectsthe next environmental preparation from the list, beginning with thefirst. In step 1104, the environmental preparation is checked for anoverride condition. Illustratively, overhead light 122, which normallywould illuminate once an incontinence event is detected, will notilluminate if the time is outside visiting hours, e.g., from 8:00PM-8:00 AM. If no override condition exists, the environment is preparedaccordingly in step 1106; if an override condition for that particularenvironmental preparation exists, then the environment is not preparedwith respect to that particular environmental preparation. If anyenvironmental preparations remain, step 1108 repeats the process for thenext environmental preparation. If no environmental preparations remain,then the process is complete.

The lockouts and overrides corresponding to an alarm can be configuredthrough a common database structure. FIG. 12 depicts the databaseassociation of the alarm database 400, the database containing type 410,priority 420, lockout 430 and override 440 fields. The type 410 fieldstores the alarm type. Type 410 field contains records 1 . . . k,priority 420 field contains records 1 . . . l, lockout 430 fieldcontains records 1 . . . m, and override 440 field contains record 1 . .. n.

Illustratively, alarm types correspond to the equipment and/or patient100 condition. Thus, type 410 values include “Incontinence Event”,“Cardiac Arrest”, “Low Blood Pressure”, “Smoke Alarm”, etc.

The priority 420 fields stores the alarm priority and corresponds thealarm priority to the alarm type. Illustratively, a higher alarmpriority corresponds to more immediate needs of the patient 100 orpossibly a life threatening condition the patient 100 is experiencing.As shown in FIG. 12, two records from the type 410 field have beenassigned a priority 2. Thus, if an alarm corresponding to either ofthose two records is received, it is assigned priority 2.

The lockouts 430 field stores the patient lockouts, the environmentallockouts, and environmental preparations. Illustratively, the lockoutscorrespond to the alarm priority. As shown in FIG. 12, a priority 2alarm has been assigned three lockouts. Illustratively, the lockoutscorrespond to bed 90 siderails, overhead light 122, and television/radio120. Thus, if a priority 2 alarm is received, the patient will not beable to operate the bed 90 siderails, overhead light 122, andtelevision/radio 120.

The override 440 field stores overrides corresponding to the lockouts430. As shown in FIG. 12, one lockout has two potential overrides.Illustratively, the lockout corresponds to the bed 90 siderail, and theoverride conditions are “Visiting Hours” or “Minor Incontinence Event.”Thus, if a patient 90 experiences an incontinence event that is only aminor event, the bed 90 siderails will not be locked out. Additionally,if the incontinence event occurs during visiting hours, the bed 90siderails will not be locked out.

One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that thedatabase configuration of FIGS. 3, 4 and 12 are illustrative only, andthat other configurations or structures are readily apparent. Forexample, overrides can be correlated to priority, or priority andlockouts, etc. Furthermore, the illustrative fields are not exhaustiveand other categorization schemes exist known to those of ordinary skillin the art.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference tocertain illustrated embodiments, variations exist within the scope andspirit of the invention as described and as defined in the followingclaims.

1. A method of monitoring a patient room, comprising: monitoring apatient room for a signal indicating the entry of a caregiver into thepatient room, detecting a signal indicating entry of a caregiver intothe patient room, verifying the identity of the caregiver associatedwith the signal, and altering the state of at least one deviceassociated with the patient room in response to detecting the entry ofthe caregiver in the patient room and verifying the identity of thecaregiver entering the room.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thealtered at least one device associated with the patient room is locatedin the patient room.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the altered atleast one device associated with the patient room is located adjacentthe patient room.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the altered at leastone device associated with the patient room is an environment device. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein the altered at least one deviceassociated with the patient room is an entertainment device.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the altered at least one device associatedwith the patient room is a radio, a television, or lighting located inthe patient room.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the altered at leastone device associated with the patient room is a control locatedadjacent a patient bed in the patient room.
 8. The method of claim 1,comprising continuing to monitor the patient room to determine whetherthe caregiver is present in the patient room after entry of thecaregiver into the patient room has been detected.
 9. The method ofclaim 8, comprising retaining the altered state of the at least onedevice as long as the caregiver is in the patient room.
 10. The methodof claim 9, comprising restoring the previous state of the at least onedevice if the caregiver exits the room.
 11. The method of claim 1,comprising detecting an alarm signal associated with the patient roomand responding to the alarm signal by initiating the monitoring of thepatient room for entry of a caregiver into the patient room.
 12. Themethod of claim 1, comprising identifying the caregiver as being acertain type of caregiver, and altering the state of at least one deviceassociated with the patient room in response to the caregiver type. 13.The method of claim 1, comprising determining the identity of a patientassigned to the patient room, determining whether the caregiver isassociated with the patient, and altering the state of at least onedevice associated with the patient room in response to the determiningwhether the caregiver is associated with the patient.
 14. The method ofclaim 1, comprising identifying the caregiver as being a certain type ofcaregiver, determining the identity of a patient assigned to the patientroom, determining whether the caregiver is associated with the patient,and altering the state of at least one device associated with thepatient room in response to the determining whether the caregiver isassociated with the patient and in response to the identifying thecaregiver as being a certain type of caregiver.
 15. The method of claim1, comprising detecting an alarm signal associated with the patient roomand altering the state of at least one device associated with thepatient room prior to monitoring the patient room for entry of acaregiver.
 16. The method of claim 1, comprising detecting an alarmsignal associated with the patient room, determining a priority of thealarm signal, and altering the state of at least one device associatedwith the patient room according to the alarm priority.
 17. The method ofclaim 1, comprising detecting an alarm signal associated with thepatient room, determining a type of the alarm signal, and altering thestate of at least one device associated with the patient room accordingto the alarm type.
 18. At least one computer accessible storage mediumcomprising instructions for executing the method of claim
 1. 19. Acomputer configured to execute the method of claim
 1. 20. A systemcomprising a transmitter, a receiver, and a computer arranged to executethe method of claim 1.